President Donald Trump is preparing to unveil a massive proposed renovation of Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) on Wednesday, expanding the airport by 5 million square feet, ditching its controversial “people mover” mobile lounges, and building an even bigger United Polaris business class lounge, Thrifty Traveler has learned.
That's according to plans and renderings obtained by Thrifty Traveler, which show a gleaming main terminal building that builds on its existing design with a wide, curving ceiling and windows – plus, a check-in and security area that is better connected to the airport's four (and soon-to-be five) concourses. The plans also call to:
- Build parking facilities closer to the main airport entrance
- Add additional gates
- Expand customs facilities for international arrivals
- Renovate woefully outdated Concourses C and D
- Replace and expand the airport's underground “AeroTrain” system to better connect all concourses
- And enhance walkability throughout the notoriously disjointed airport
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As a key United international hub, Dulles already has a Polaris business class lounge, which opened in 2021. But the plans explicitly call for “one of the largest United Polaris Lounges in the world” as well as additional United Club lounge spaces.
President Trump was expected to officially unveil the plan for Dulles with other administration officials and United Airlines executives on Wednesday afternoon. CBS News also reported the news of plans in progress earlier Tuesday.
The timeline for proposed renovations is unclear, but it's projected to cost more than $20 billion and will likely take many years to begin – let alone complete. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates both Dulles and Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA), is expected to sell bonds to finance much of the project, meaning taxpayers may ultimately foot the bill in the form of higher fees on airfare, taxes, or both.
The plans also explicitly invite private investment in some aspects of the project.
Designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962 just outside the nation's capital in suburban Virginia, Dulles is one of the country's largest and busiest airports. But it's equally unpopular for its far-flung location and aging infrastructure – especially the wonky mobile “people mover” lounges that schlep passengers from the terminal to gates as well as bringing many arriving international passengers to customs.
An expanded AeroTrain network and more interconnected walkways would render those mobile lounges obsolete.
While discussions of how to improve the airport have been circling for decades, Trump first indicated a massive Dulles renovation was in the works late last year, calling it “a terrible airport.”
